English Lavender & Other Stuff

I am in the process of making a lovely English Lavender garden. 

I have my spot all picked out.

I have chosen the Hidcote Variety

The spot needs some serious weeding to make it lovely

I wonder how much they will spread this year?

Another project I have been working on is filling all the containers I have collected from yard sales over the last few months with year round succulents and several varieties of Hens and Chickens.  

 I am always on the lookout for  all sorts of cast iron...

or other heavy metal containers.  I can always buy an old cast iron pot or other interesting old rusty metal container for less than $3  at a yard sale.

 

Keep your eye out for containers with the bottom partly rusted out.....they are perfect!

I would have to drill holes in the bottom for drainage anyway so it's a win win

Succulents need very little care so they are perfect in containers that add interest to your garden.

You can tuck a pot or bucket of them in almost any corner.

They will survive the winter even in very cold areas and in the spring they will have made many little babies that you can fill up more containers with.

  I love putting them in unexpected containers like this handled pot.  The pot can even be hung up or laid on it's side after they are rooted.
 
These have just been started but they will be filled up in no time flat

And look more like this

They are wonderful tucked into rocks 
near the side of my pond

Now to decide what to put in these two fabulous 

cement planters....decisions - decisions

Vintage Farm Wheels - A Long Time Love

I love using vintage farm wheels for decorating

 especially in the garden, but they really look great anywhere

I have been collecting them in all shapes and sizes for years

 The gardens are not in bloom but they add interest and dimension all year long 

 Large ones.....small ones.....it doesn't matter. 

 I like to stack them or place them alone.

 

They make a great trellis

Some, I save to make garden carts with

Some are just plain interesting

And some are FABULOUS

Here are just a few more that I can't resist showing you

I'd love to hear about how you used wheels

in your decor....inside or out



Spring Scents - Candle Making - In Full Swing

We are in the process of making our Spring & Summer Candle Scents....like Dew Drops,

Lime-Coconut-Vanilla, Summer Citrus and of course....French Lavender. 

There are about 10 new scents and I love them all.

We melt the wax either in the microwave or on a hotplate...

sometimes both are going at once!

Choosing  just the right soy wax is important for clarity, scent throw etc.

Next is to check that the temperature is just right for adding the scents and pouring...

then measuring out the correct amount of scented oil

Getting the wick size right is a challenge.....so many rules. 

The only way to get it right is to experiment

Pouring can be a little messy but you know you're almost done

A stable place to set them to cool.

And then the finished product....creamy white - spring scented candles

All thats left to do is make labels.